As the budget reconciliation process advances, Senate Democrats and a growing number of state leaders continue to raise the alarm about the devastating impacts of the proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Advocates have been working nonstop, warning lawmakers, especially Republicans who are leading this bill, of the unprecedented shift and dire consequences this bill would cause.
Annually, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues a report on the characteristics of households and individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The most recent report released in April provides details about fiscal year 2023 program participants, and critical insights for lawmakers, advocates, and stakeholders, while simultaneously pushing back against harmful narratives that have been perpetuated about households participating in SNAP.
Senate Republicans continue to debate deep cuts to basic needs services as part of a larger plan to fund President Trump’s tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. On Sunday, parliamentary rulings targeted two Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provisions, the measures to shift costs to states and to bar humanitarian-based immigrants from receiving SNAP benefits. On Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee issued a press release incorrectly claiming the parliamentarian had ruled in favor of its updated language to allow its cost shift provision. That release and a related social media post celebrating a GOP “win” were promptly taken down. On Wednesday, the committee released revised language that attempts to comply with procedural requirements but is equally harmful — it keeps the state cost shift with some amendments and exempts other humanitarian-based immigrants. (See table comparison). Whether this amended version will pass muster with the parliamentarian remains to be seen.
